It seems like this is a no-brainer- we have overcrowded bus lines, a two-car trolley can hold more people than a bus, and we happen to have a full set of trolley infrastructure under the ground that conveniently intersects with our heavy-rail lines. And street-running light rail is used successfully in cities all over the world, including in this very country.
But instead the leadership does all it can to avoid building any more street-running lines (what exists I assume will unfortunately go away as soon as the T can find the money to mechanize the cross-over at Brigham Circle) to the point of dodging legal commitments, and some of that trolley infrastructure literally rots away unused. (I refer of course to the Tremont Street Subway south of Boylston)
How did this mindset come about? I know when the MTA took over BERy it seems like they (as was the governing mindset at the time) wanted to get out of the trolley business in general as much as they could, but that mindset shouldn't still be left over today, is it? Was there something more, then, like an accident or something?
I guess the ADA stuff could be an issue... I'm sure this isn't an unsolved problem, though. (I know Philadelphia has just been avoiding it and pushing their non-compliant trolley fleet as long as they can) After all, building a curb pullout for a Type 8 shouldn't be that much more disruptive than a bus stop... (after all, you're not supposed to park there... no, really, you're not)
I do wonder about Boylston Station and the ADA, though- say you converted the Silver Line, wouldn't that mean Boylston would have to have elevators added, since the Silver Line Boylston stop is compliant? Or could they use some sort of historic exemption? (I'm also assuming here the ramps and underpass at Boylston aren't too steep for modern LRV's, since I've never heard otherwise)
But instead the leadership does all it can to avoid building any more street-running lines (what exists I assume will unfortunately go away as soon as the T can find the money to mechanize the cross-over at Brigham Circle) to the point of dodging legal commitments, and some of that trolley infrastructure literally rots away unused. (I refer of course to the Tremont Street Subway south of Boylston)
How did this mindset come about? I know when the MTA took over BERy it seems like they (as was the governing mindset at the time) wanted to get out of the trolley business in general as much as they could, but that mindset shouldn't still be left over today, is it? Was there something more, then, like an accident or something?
I guess the ADA stuff could be an issue... I'm sure this isn't an unsolved problem, though. (I know Philadelphia has just been avoiding it and pushing their non-compliant trolley fleet as long as they can) After all, building a curb pullout for a Type 8 shouldn't be that much more disruptive than a bus stop... (after all, you're not supposed to park there... no, really, you're not)
I do wonder about Boylston Station and the ADA, though- say you converted the Silver Line, wouldn't that mean Boylston would have to have elevators added, since the Silver Line Boylston stop is compliant? Or could they use some sort of historic exemption? (I'm also assuming here the ramps and underpass at Boylston aren't too steep for modern LRV's, since I've never heard otherwise)